Still desperately in need of a kidney transplant, Dayna Stephens is currently the tenor player du jour for Criss Cross. His closest musical colleagues seem to be from a school that embraces people like pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Linda Oh and guitarist Julian Lage, though apparently in the can awaiting release is an interesting two-tenor date with Walter Smith III. Here he teams up with the excellent guitarist from Chick Corea's new band, Charles Altura, and the talented pianist Gerald Clayton. (There's one track – not typical of the rest of the CD – a New Orleans funk 12-bar where Clayton plays Hammond and Stephens blows on his original instrument, baritone, though he is also a bass player). The other nine tracks include a high-key vocal version of Ellington's ‘Prelude to a Kiss’ and two swinging takes of a Brad Mehldau song originally recorded at a much slower tempo, ‘Unrequited’. The remaining tracks include a Parks tune given a personal touch by Stephens and the six originals that he himself brought to the date, which encompass a number of different moods. His melodies are strong, his harmonic approach always challenging and one song in particular, the aptly titled ‘Field of Landmines’, has the most complex time changes imaginable, but everyone acquits themselves with distinction. Special mention for Joe Sanders' imaginative and original playing throughout, solidly supported by Bill Stewart's years of experience. Stephens is fast becoming accepted by his peers and, kidney problems permitting, has a promising future.